Bill of Rights for Nigerian Passengers Embarking on Air travel

An airline may over – book
a scheduled flight in anticipation that some passengers may not show up for the
flight. In the event of such over – sold flight, the airline shall take the
following measures:

·Ensure that the
smallest practicable number of persons holding the confirmed tickets on that
flight are denied boarding involuntarily.

·Request for volunteers
for denied boarding involuntarily shall be entitled to compensation by the
airline thus: At least 25% of the fares or passenger ticket price for all flights
within Nigeria. At least 30% of the passenger ticket price for all
International routes.

2. Boarding priority

Every airline shall
establish priority procedures and criteria for determining which passengers
holding confirmed ticket shall be denied boarding on the over – booked flight,
if insufficient number of volunteers come forward. Boarding priority factors
listed in the Passengers Bill of Rights and Airlines Obligations are:

·Passengers on
Medical trips

·Passengers time
of check – in

·Passengers with
assigned seats prior to boarding

·The fair paid by
the passenger

·A passengers
frequent-flying status

·A passenger with
reduced mobility, including unaccompanied minors

·Families [two
adults] where at least one child is aged five or under

If denied boarding involuntarily,
the operating airline shall immediately compensate the passengers and offer
assistance in form of:

·Refreshment

·A meal

·Hotel accommodation

·Transport between
the airport and place of accommodation [Hotel]

·Two telephone
calls, SMS or e-mail, free of charge

3. Flight delays

Flight delays are a usual occurrence
in air travel. When they occur, they come with inconveniences to passengers. That’s
why the new Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority - [NCAA] Bill of rights provides that whenever an airline anticipates a
delay of its flight beyond its scheduled time, affected passengers are entitled
to the following rights:

·Delay for two
hours and beyond, carrier shall reimburse passengers the full value of their
tickets.

·Delay between
10pm and 4am, carrier shall provide hotel accommodation, refreshment, meal, two
free calls, SMS, e-mail and transport to and from airport.

International Flight delays

When
on an international flight, the operating air carrier reasonably expects a flight
to be delayed beyond its scheduled time of departure, the airline shall provide
you the following assistance:

·Delay between two
and four hours, you shall be entitled to refreshment and two telephone calls,
SMS or e-mail.

·Delay of hours or
more you shall be entitled to a meal, two telephone calls, SMS or e-mail.

·When the reasonably
expected time of departure is at least six hours after the time of departure
previously announced, you shall be entitled to hotel accommodation and
transportation between the airport and place of accommodation.

4. Flight cancellation

Airlines can cancel flights
provided booked passengers are informed, 24 hours before scheduled departure
time in the case of domestic flights; seven days before scheduled departure time
for international flights. Between three and seven days before scheduled time
of departure and is offered re – routing for international flights, or less
than seven days before scheduled date of departure and is offered re – routing,
allowing him/her to depart not more than one hour before scheduled time of
departure and to arrive the final destination not more than two hours after
scheduled arrival time.

Where this time frame is
not observed, the following rights apply:

·25 per cent of
passenger ticket price for all domestic flight within Nigeria

·30 per cent of
passenger ticket price for all international flights.

Also, passengers whose
flight were cancelled outside the stipulated time above are entitled in
addition to any of the following choices:

·Immediate reimbursement
in cash for domestic flights and within 14 days for international flights
either by cash, electronic bank transfer, bank orders or bank cheque or with
the signed agreement, in travel vouchers or other services. Such vouchers shall
be redeemable at all sales outlets of the air carrier issuing the vouchers.

·All reimbursement
shall be at the full cost of ticket at the price at which it was bought for the
part or parts of the journey not made and for the part or parts of the journey
already made. If the flight is no longer serving any purpose in relation to the
passengers original travel plan, together with, when relevant, a return flight to
the first point of departure, at the earliest opportunity.